COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 246, 11 July 1919, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES | i WAIRARAPA A number of applications have gone in from Carterton for workers' dwellings. It is understood that tho Department has two sections left in Park Eoad, where they some time ago erected four cottages. A committee has been set up in Carterton to carry out peace celebrations on tho Saturday. A programme of sports is to bo held in the Showgrounds. A case of interest to employers and employees was heard at the last sitting of the Carterton Magistrate's Court, when Thomas Merson sued the Masterton Farmers' Implement Co., Ltd., for the sum of JCI7 lte. 9d., which he contended was duo to him as wages during the period he was ill from influenza, viz., from November 11 to December 9 last, and from December 17 to January 14. Mr. If. J. Acheson appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Wils6n for the defendant company. It was contended for the plaintiff that until his employment with the defendant company was terminated by notice, plaintiff was entitled to recover wages during his sickness. For flip, defence it was urged that no notice was required, as the plaintiff was paid bv tho hour. His Worship reserved his decision until the next sitting of the Court after intimating that he was favourable to tli? arguments advnnced by thf plaintiff's solicitor; but he wished to consider tho question of whether, since tho defendant became ill on the first dav of his return after having been called up for active service,' the fact that bo must have been unwell when he returned to his employment affected his ejaim. Prices for dairy stock are ruling high at present in this district. At Martinborough recently a herd of G3 cows averaged £Zi 12s. Gil. per head, while at Masterton stock sales yesterday £18 10s. was the top price. During tho quarter ending June, 35 old age pensions were granted at Masterton Magistrate's Court, and 42 were renewed. During tho same period four widows' pensions were granted and two renewed. Tho hatching season at Masterton fishponds this year promises to be more successful than for several years past. Besides 600,000 brown trout ova secured from the W-aipoua River, 250,000 rainbow ova are on the way from liotorua, 230,000 brown trout ova aro due (hortly from Otago, and a further 250,000 from the Government. •

At tho thirty-third annual meeting of the Masterton Fire Brigade, held on Wednesday evening, Superintendent E. Freeman presiding, tho secretary's report stated that tho number of musters for tho year had boon 38, and Deputy-Super-intendent Jenkins and Fireman Lewis attended them. all. Tho brigade had been represented at tho front ov in camp 'by sixteen members, all of whom had returned except Gunner 'iL Selby, M.M., who had been killed in action, and J. Clark. Tho balance-sheet showed tho receipts to bo .£76 Vis. 7(1., 'ind the expenditure -,£SG 9s. 6<l.

The balauco of tho Wairarapa Bed Cross Fund, name!*, ,£507 lis. M. (Mastorton .£IBO 2s. and Martinboroiigh' v .£3lB 9s. 3d.), has been forwarded lo tho central committee at Wellington.

A special committee (Mesdames J. jr. Coradinc, J. Cnselborg, and Archer) was some time ago appointed by tho Patriotic Society, and is still -looking after tho interests of wounded soldiers.

That houses are as hard (o obtain at Masterton as> elsewhere in Now Zealand was evidenced at tho sitting of tho Masterton Magistrate's Court yesterday, when several persons had eviction orders made out against them, Ono tenant who was proceeded against for the recovery of possession of a house purchased by the plaintiff said that his wife and himself had dono their best to i-Waiu a house. Ho hod seen no fewer than four houses during the past month, blit all of them were unsuitable, one l>einp; used as a store and tlio others being insanitary. Ife had a wifo and four children for whom he had to provide. He admitted having received notice lo quit. The Magistrate. Mr. S. L. Free, said that ho sympathised with the defendant, who was a. victim of tho universal shortage of houses. He would make an order for possession, 'but would allow fourteen days' grace.

HANAVATU Consideration was given by the Pnlmerston North Hospital Board yesterday to a motion by Mr. Smart that the charge per diem per patient at the 1 ospital be increased from tt. to (Is. fpeaking to his motion, Mr. Smart .said that ever since tho commencement of the \ ar in 19H tho cost of maintenance had risen steadily from ss. per head to Bs. ljd. The total cost 'of' running the hospital had risen from iiiii'JT to £13,398. .The amount received from patients last year was dClO3i. The actual loss per patient per day was is. <kl. In the course of a general discussion it was pointed out that tho New Plymouth, Nelson, and "Wellington Boards all charged £2 2s. per week. Dr. B. AVhitaker, who opposed tho motion, said that cxperienco iiad shown that the more patients wero charged the less a board was ablo to collect. With only a low charge the Palmorst'un Board had collected AIOOO last year, actually ikiiUOO more than was estimated. The motion was defeated on I'ho casting voto of the chairman. (Sir James Wilson), and an ainendmejifc was carried postponing consideration till after the proposed conference of hospital boards. "Encephalitis lethargica" (sleeping sickness), the latest disease, has made its appearance in the Palmerston North hospital district. Two cases of this strange disease occurred in the district last month, one in Palmerston North (an adult) and the other at Levin (a child of four years). Another rather disquieting feature of the return of the District Health Officer is the fact that during Juno no fewer than 43 cases of diphtheria were notified in tho district/ Two deaths occurred from this disease.

The dislocation in the railway traffic and the number of passengers who are compelled to stop oyer at Palmerston North for the night is causing considerable inconvenience to tho travelling public, as well as to many householders. Night after night people are tramping the streets in search of accommodation, and even after 11 p.m. many householders' aro knocked up in the hope that they will take people in, On several occasions the 6tatioumaster has had to make 'arrangements to allow people, mostly women and Maoris, to sit up in the waiting room at the station during the night. In consequence of the stoppage of the general -goods traffic the railway yards and sheds at Palmerston North are still in a very congested state, some hundreds of trucks of timber and goods being, hung ■up. An endeavour is being made to get them to their destinations.

A particularly hard case has just come under notice in connection with tho embargo against carrying stock on tho railways. A returned soldier, who secured n dairy farm further north some weeks ago, purchased a number of dairy cows in the Palmerston North district, and made arrangements to graze them there until ho was ready to remove them. As they aro all closo to calving, he is naturally anxious to get them home without delay, but he is now faced with (ho position that under the new restrictions tho liailway Department cannot carry them. 1

ilr. H. Richardson,' who has retired from the position of postmaster at Bunnythorpe ofter '25 years' service, was m'ado tho recipient of a presentation by t'no settlors in that district in the shape of a purse of sovereigns and an illuminated address; Major Addington, a well-known- Horowhenua settler, lias disposed of his property nt Fnhiko to Sir. Leslie Skorman, and Will shortly return to England, Amongst Now Zealand officers recently decorated at Buckingham Palace were Major H. Bai'i-owclouKh, D.S.O. aiid M.C.. and Lieutenant' W. Sievers, M.C. The former officer is nn ex-nnpil of the Palinnrston North High School. Lieutenant Siovors, who lives nt Levin, returned to ili» Dominion this week. Mrs. P. J. Wilson, nf Pnlmorston North, lias rpceivod cabled advice of 'the <kith. of her ■brother. Mr. ITan-y Riuniilo. which occurred' in Sydney after n Ion? and gainful illness. The deceased, who vas .15 years of nse. was at one time in business nt Wellington. At a meelinp; nf poultry enthusiasts „l n„i mDr clrm Nni-t.li nn Wedncsdnv

night it was unanimously decided to form, the Manawutu Utility Poultrykeepers Association, the objects' being to arrange for the purchase of foods, the sale of eggs, holding of lectures and demonstrations, and Hie running of competitions. Pules were drawn up and adopted, and the following officers elected-.— President, Mr. A. E. Drane; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. J. .Tarvis, W. .Hodson, C. Byeroft, and W. H. B. Cowburn; sccrevary. Mr. T. Bruce; treasurer, Mr. W. Ritchie; auditor, Mr. U. Stanley. The Bunnythorpe Brethren have erected a Gospel Hall in concrete, finished in rough cast, with seating accommodation for IGO people. . The Levin Co-operative Dairy Companv's main factory in Levin and tho creamery at Ihakara are undergoing extensive 'improvements, 60 as to provido for an increased intake of milk when the season opens. At a meeting of horticulturists at Levin this week it was decided to resuscitate the local society. Mr. J. C. Neill was elected president, and it was decided to hold a one-day spring show and a two-day autumn show. in endeavour is being made to torn) a branch of the .Returned Soldiers Association at Otaki. At a meeting convened by Captain T. B. Box for tho purpose, fourteen returned men were present. Captain Box pointed out that it was necessary to secure ono hundred members before they could form a branch of the association. This was a large order, but seeing the great number of soldiers in the district between Levin and Packakariki, he thought they would lie able to secure Hie required number. In the event of a branch being formed, Air. G; H. Harper had offered to act as honorary solicitor. A committee was set up to canvass the district for members, and report to ft further meeting. Mr. Harold Jones was appointed lion, secretary pro tern. Nurse A. M. Conway has resigned her position from the nursing staff of the Palmerston North Hospital, and Sister H. C. Trask has been granted three months' leave of absence.